Residents’ anger over new bus stop location
bronte.howard@walesonline.co.uk
RESIDENTS of a Cardiff city centre apartment block are furious that a bus stop serving hundreds of people a day has been put outside their homes.
When works began on Westgate Street on September 22, the stop for the 17/18 bus service to Ely was moved further down the road outside Marlborough House, a block of 142 flats.
Cardiff council has now announced it is going to relocate the bus stop following complaints, but residents said it was a “living nightmare” with buses constantly idling outside the building with their engines on and people waiting for the bus making it difficult to get into their property.
One woman, who didn’t want to be named, has lived in a ground floor flat with her husband for three years and said the noise from buses outside her home has been “worse than a matchday” and is concerned over the lack of privacy.
She said: “They have not thought of the consequences. We have 20 to 30 people waiting outside our door – they are standing in our steps. If I was to do so, I could reach out and touch all these people. It is a total invasion of our privacy. It’s a living nightmare
“Buses are there constantly. There’s normally more than one in a line outside the building and drivers don’t turn off their engines so it’s a constant buzz.”
She said they haven’t been able to open their windows or blinds since the Welsh Water works began three weeks ago because of the constant loud noise.
Her main concern, however, is the potential effects the extra noise and air pollution could have on their health.
She said: “We are breathing in the pollution from the buses all day and we have to put up with the loud noise that keeps us awake at night.
“Every flat has an air vent under their windows and that pollution is just going straight in.
“I have had dry eyes since it started and other residents have said they have had a constant cough and dizziness.
“We are not sleeping properly because they are outside from about 6am until midnight.
“Yes we are frustrated that we can’t open our windows or have a food shop delivered but this is our health.”
Another resident of Marlborough House, who wished to remain anonymous, said the bus stop is so busy “it’s essentially a bus station”.
The 85-year-old woman has lived in the building for 30 years and said residents don’t have a problem with the usual traffic noise, having bought their apartments aware of its location, but is concerned about the safety of residents and people passing by.
She said: “Cars trying to get in and out of the car park can’t see what’s coming. Everyone uses the car park, it’s very busy.
“If a car is trying to turn in and there are more than one bus parked up, either you can’t get in because the entrance is blocked or you have to turn in without being able to see if there are people walking on the pavement.
“Cars leaving can’t see what’s coming on the other side of the road. You have to go more than halfway across the road to be able to see properly.”
Another homeowner, who bought an apartment in Marlborough House for his son who’s studying at university in Cardiff, said he is concerned about his son’s health and his ability to study with the constant hum of buses.
He said: “He’s normally out from about 7.30am until late in the evening and then he comes back to study.
“I don’t know how he is managing to cope with the constant noise. He is in his final year and is studying for his final exams, this is the moment he has been working towards.
“We have no issue with the usual noise, that’s something we accepted when we bought the property, and the usual constant flow of traffic isn’t as bad, but the noise from the buses are terrible.
“And he’s breathing this in. It can’t be good for him.
“Buses are outside the flat from 5.20am in the morning until just before midnight. Nobody can sleep through that.”
A spokeswoman for Cardiff Bus said the company is aware of the problem and is liaising with Cardiff council.
She said: “As a result of the Welsh Water works on Westgate Street we have had to revise a number of routes and stopping arrangements.
“We are aware that these are far from ideal however we have very few options open to us. We have liaised with Cardiff council on this matter.”
A spokeswoman for Cardiff council said: “Following concerns raised by residents, Cardiff council has worked with Cardiff Bus and the temporary bus stop which was causing some complaints is now being relocated, away from the flats in question.
“By law, the council has to assist and facilitate access for utility companies to carry out emergency works on the highway.
“In this instance, there was a sewer collapse which required Westgate Street to be closed for a period so that Welsh Water could carry out essential repairs.
“To minimise the disruption on the road network in the city centre due to this closure, certain buses had to be re-routed on Westgate Street to manage traffic congestion in the area.
“This was a requirement in the short term to ensure that traffic could flow in the city centre.
“Most of the buses that use Westgate Street have now resumed normal operations and the council will continue to work with Welsh Water and bus operators to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum until these works are completed.”
The council hasn’t confirmed when the bus stop is going to be moved.
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